HIGH-SPEED ULTRASOUND IMAGING

该提案的长期目标是设计、构建和临床应用 评估真实的时间体积（3D）超声成像系统， 还能够可视化和准确地表示三个区域中的血流， 尺寸. 该仪器将允许非侵入性评估 肿瘤和器官体积以及心腔体积。 等 测量具有改善肿瘤治疗决策的潜力， 评估各种器官的先天和病理状态， 连续评估心脏功能。 角的并入 独立的3D血流测量将允许快速无创 评估主要外周血管、腹部深血管和 冠状动脉 血流成像还将描绘出血管的管腔。 因此简化了动脉粥样硬化斑块的检测。 的 该提案的具体目标包括升级杜克级 阵列扫描仪以256个发射和接收通道而发展 改进的2D阵列。 拟议的工作旨在克服局限性 在灵敏度和动态范围方面，目前排除了临床应用。 升级后的系统的性能将在体积方面进行评估 在体外和体内试验中的测定。 第二大领域 建议的工作是针对超声血液的发展， 速度测量和成像技术，适用于 在3D中可视化流动。 两个角度独立的方法进行了研究。 根据体外和体内研究，将选择其中一项作为 最适合于3D流动成像。 硬件将被构建为 实现该流量检测和测量方案。 体内研究 以验证最终系统的性能。

The long term goal of this proposal is to design, construct and clinically evaluate a real time volumetric (3D) ultrasonic imaging system which is also capable of visualizing and accurately representing blood flow in three dimensions. This instrument will permit the noninvasive assessment of tumor and organ volumes as well as cardiac chamber volumes. Such measurements have the potential of improving decision on tumor treatment, of assessing congenital and pathological states of various organs and of evaluating cardiac function on a serial basis. Incorporation of angle independent 3D flow measurements will permit the rapid noninvasive assessment of flow major peripheral vessels, deep abdominal vessels and coronary arteries. Flow imaging will also delineate the lumen of the vessel thereby simplifying detection of atherosclerotic plaques. The specific aims of the proposal include the upgrading of the Duke Phased Array Scanner to 256 transmit and receive channels and the development of improved 2D arrays. The proposed work is aimed at overcoming limitations in sensitivity and dynamic range which currently preclude clinical use. The upgraded system's performance will be assessed in terms of volumetric determinations in vitro and in vivo tests. The second major area of proposed work is directed towards the development of ultrasonic blood velocity measurement and imaging techniques which are suitable for visualizing flow in 3D. Two angle independent methods are to be studied. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies, one of these will be selected as most suitable for 3D flow imaging. Hardware will be constructed to implement this flow detection and measurement scheme. In vivo studies are proposed to validate the performance of the final system.